Drawer-type refrigerator having tightly closable sliding unit

ABSTRACT

A drawer-type refrigerator includes a body cabinet with at least one storage area having a front opening and a sliding unit to slide in and out through the front opening of the storage area. An automatic guiding device/securing mechanism/locking mechanism which is interposed between the storage area and the sliding unit, stores an elastic force in a sliding-in direction of the sliding unit when the sliding unit slides out and provides the stored elastic force to the sliding unit when the sliding unit slides in. Thus, the drawer-type refrigerator has a sliding unit that can be completely slid into a storage area, and the inside of the storage area can be closed tightly independent of a material of a body cabinet and a door.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. 2002-0057236, filed Sep. 19, 2002, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a drawer-type refrigerator, especially a drawer-type refrigerator having an improved entrance structure of a sliding unit thereof.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] A conventional drawer-type refrigerator, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a body cabinet 110 in which a storage area 111 having a front opening 113 is formed, a guide rail 115 installed along opposite sides of the storage area 111 and a sliding unit 120 to slide in and out through the front opening 113 of the storage area 111, along the guide rail 115.

[0006] The sliding unit 120 includes a door 121 for opening and/or closing the front opening 113 of the storage area 111, a supporting frame 123 extended along the guide rail 115 from an interior side of the door 121, and a storage basket 125 to store items, inserted between both supporting frames 123 and supported thereby.

[0007] Rollers (not shown) may be installed between the guide rail 115 and the supporting frame 123 at predetermined intervals so that the sliding unit 120 can slide smoothly.

[0008] Conventionally, an edge of the interior side of the door 121 and a wall of the body cabinet 110 adhere closely to each other via a magnetic force. That is, a magnet (not shown) is provided in the inside of an interior plate of the door 121 and a magnetic metal is provided in the wall of the body cabinet 110 opposite to the interior plate of the door 121. Thus, the door 121 closes up the front opening 113 of the storage area 111.

[0009] However, in a conventional drawer-type refrigerator, when the door 121 does not tightly close the front opening 113 of the storage area 111, but instead protrudes from the body cabinet 110, and a user does not notice the problem, the storage area 11 may be left open, allowing cool air to leak out and power to be lost.

[0010] Also, even if the storage area 111 is closed by the magnetic force, a material of the body cabinet 110 is limited to a magnetic material. When the body cabinet 110 is provided as a non-magnetic material, a special magnetic body needs to be provided in a position opposite to a magnet installed in the door 121.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to include a drawer-type refrigerator with a sliding unit that can be completely slid into a storage area to close the inside of the storage area tightly.

[0012] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

[0013] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are achieved by a drawer-type refrigerator comprising a body cabinet having at least one storage area with a front opening and a sliding unit to slide in and out through the front opening of the storage area, further comprising an automatic guiding device/securing mechanism/locking mechanism which is interposed between the storage area and the sliding unit, stores an elastic force in a sliding-in direction of the sliding unit when the sliding unit slides out, and provides the stored elastic force to the sliding unit when the sliding unit slides in.

[0014] In one aspect, the automatic guiding device/securing mechanism/locking mechanism includes an engaging projection in one of the storage area and the sliding unit, a sliding locker having a first engaging supporter to engage one side of the engaging projection when the sliding unit slides out and a second engaging supporter to engage another side of the engaging projection when the sliding unit slides in, a guide part, disposed in the other one of the storage area and the sliding unit, to guide the sliding locker to move between a sliding position in which the first engaging supporter slides, engaging the one side of the engaging projection, and a disengaging position in which the first engaging supporter is disengaged when the sliding unit slides in and out, and a spring member to store an elastic force while the sliding locker moves to the disengaging position.

[0015] In one aspect, a guide rail to guide the sliding unit is installed in the storage area along an entrance direction of the sliding unit, and one of the engaging projection and the guide part is disposed in the guide rail.

[0016] In one aspect, the sliding unit includes a door opening and/or closing the front opening of the storage area, a supporting frame extended along the guide rail from the door, and one of the engaging projection and the guide part disposed in the supporting frame.

[0017] In one aspect, in the guide part are a horizontal guide hole, formed along the entrance direction of the sliding unit, to guide the sliding of the sliding locker and a vertical guide hole, extended from the horizontal guide hole, to guide the sliding locker to the disengaging position.

[0018] Also, in one aspect, the sliding locker further comprises a first guide projection inserted into the horizontal guide hole to slide along the entrance direction of the sliding unit and a second guide projection to slide between the horizontal guide hole and the vertical guide hole.

[0019] Furthermore, in one aspect, one side of the spring member is connected to the guide part and another side of the spring member is connected to the second guide projection.

[0020] Additionally, in one aspect, the spring member is installed lengthwise opposite the horizontal guide hole at the disengaging position of the sliding locker.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompany drawings of which:

[0022]FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a conventional drawer-type refrigerator;

[0023]FIGS. 2 and 3 are partial sectional views of a drawer-type refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the drawer-type refrigerator shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

[0025]FIGS. 5A through 5D illustrate operation states of the drawer-type refrigerator shown in FIGS. 2 and 3; and

[0026]FIGS. 6, 7A and 7B illustrate operation states of an engaging projection and a sliding locker of the drawer-type refrigerator shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

[0028] A drawer-type refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, comprises a body cabinet 10 with a storage area 11 having a front opening 13, a sliding unit 20 to slide in and out through the front opening 13 of the storage area 11, and an automatic guiding device/securing mechanism/locking mechanism interposed between the storage area 11 and the sliding unit 20, to store an elastic force in a sliding-in direction of the sliding unit 20 when the sliding unit 20 slides out and to provide the elastic force that is stored to the sliding unit 20 when the sliding unit 20 slides in.

[0029] A guide rail 15, installed along opposite sides of the storage area 11, guides the sliding unit 20 when the sliding unit 20 slides in and out. The sliding unit 20 includes a door 21 opening and/or closing the front opening 13 of the storage area 11, a supporting frame 23 extended along the guide rail 15 from an interior side of the door 21 and a storage basket 25 to store items, inserted within the supporting frame 23 and supported thereby.

[0030] Rollers (not shown) may be provided between the guide rail 15 and the supporting frame 23 at predetermined intervals so that the sliding unit 20 can slide smoothly.

[0031] The automatic guiding device/securing mechanism/locking mechanism includes an engaging projection 40 in one of the storage area 11 and the sliding unit 20, a sliding locker 30 having a first engaging supporter 31 to engage one side of the engaging projection 40 when the sliding unit 20 slides out and a second engaging supporter 33 to engage the other side of the engaging projection 40 when the sliding unit 20 slides in, a guide part 50, disposed in the other one of the storage area 11 and the sliding unit 20, to guide the sliding locker 30 so that the sliding locker 30 can move between a sliding position in which the first engaging supporter 31 slides, engaging one side of the engaging projection 40, and a disengaging position in which the first engaging supporter 31 is disengaged when the sliding unit 20 slides out and in, and a spring member 60 to store the elastic force while the sliding locker 30 moves to the disengaging position.

[0032] The engaging projection 40 can be disposed at the backward side and the inside of the storage area 11 in the guide rail 15 and engages the sliding locker 30. The sliding locker 30 is located on the upper side of the engaging projection 40 and slides, supported by the guide part 50. The first engaging supporter 31 and the second engaging supporter 33 are disposed in the sliding locker 30. The first engaging supporter 31, disposed backward from the engaging projection 40, engages the rear of the engaging projection 40 when the sliding unit 20 slides out. The second engaging supporter 33, disposed forward from the engaging projection 40, contacts the front of the engaging projection 40, to make the first engaging supporter 31 contact the rear of the engaging projection 40 when that the sliding unit 20 slides in. The first engaging supporter 31 and the second engaging supporter 33 of the sliding locker 30 are disposed forward and backward from the engaging projection 40, forming a “

” shape.

[0033] A first guide projection 35 (refer to FIGS. 7A and 7B) is, inserted into a horizontal guide hole 51 of the guide part 50, and a second guide projection 37 (refer to FIGS. 7A and 7B) slides between the horizontal guide hole 51 and a vertical guide hole 53 of the guide part 50 that are disposed in the sliding locker 30.

[0034] The guide part 50 to guide the sliding locker 30 is disposed in the sliding unit 20. The guide part 50 guides the sliding locker 30 so that the sliding locker 30 can move between a sliding position in which the first engaging supporter 31 slides, engaging the rear of the engaging projection 40, and a disengaging position in which the first engaging supporter 31 is disengaged when the sliding unit 20 slides out and in. The guide part 50 of the embodiment according to the present invention is disposed in the supporting frame 23, but can be also disposed in a predetermined position of the storage basket 25 opposite to the engaging projection 40 when the sliding unit 20 slides into the storage area 11.

[0035] The horizontal guide hole 51 and the vertical guide hole 53 are disposed in the guide part 50. The horizontal guide hole 51, formed along the entrance direction of the sliding unit 20, guides the first guide projection 35 and the second guide projection 37 at the sliding position of the sliding locker 30. The vertical guide hole 53, extended upward from the backside of the horizontal guide hole 51, guides the second guide projection 37 to guide the sliding locker 30 to the disengaging position.

[0036] Between the guide part 50 and the sliding locker 30, the spring member 60 is interposed and is lengthened as the sliding locker 30 slides along the guide part 50 when the sliding unit 20 slides out. The spring member 60 is lengthened as the sliding unit 20 slides out, providing the sliding unit 20 with an elastic force acting in the sliding-in direction of the sliding unit 20 on the entrance of the sliding unit 20. In one embodiment, one side of the spring member 60 is connected to the guide part 50, and the other side of the spring member 60 is connected to the second guide projection 37.

[0037] With the above configuration, the operation process of the drawer-type refrigerator is described as follows, referring to FIGS. 5A through 5D and 6. At first, in the state that the sliding unit 20 is completely inserted into the storage area 11 of the body cabinet 10, as shown in FIG. 5A, the first engaging supporter 31 and the second engaging supporter 33 are oppositely disposed backward and forward from the engaging projection 40 respectively. Also, the first guide projection 35 and the second guide projection 37 of the sliding locker 30 are inserted into the horizontal guide hole 51 of the guide part 50.

[0038] If a user pulls out the sliding unit 20, the sliding unit 20 slides out along the guide rail 15, and the guide part 50 provided in the sliding unit 20 is pulled out with the sliding unit 20. The rear of the engaging projection 40 disposed in the guide rail 15 contacts with the first engaging supporter 31 of the sliding locker 30 and applies backward pressure to the sliding locker 30 to make the first guide projection 35 and the second guide projection 37 of the sliding locker 30 slide backward along the horizontal guide hole 51. In this embodiment, the spring member 60 is attached to the guide part 50 and the second guide projection 37 and is lengthened as the sliding locker 30 slides (refer to FIG. 5B).

[0039] When the sliding unit 20 slides out by a predetermined distance, the second guide projection 37 of the sliding locker 30 that slides in the backward side of the guide part 50 is inserted into the vertical guide hole 53. If the second guide projection 37 of the sliding locker 30 slides along the vertical guide hole 53, the sliding locker 30 rotates, to disengage the first engaging supporter 31 and the engaging projection 40 (refer to FIG. 5C). When the sliding unit 20 slides out the storage area 11 continuously, the sliding locker 30 also slides out with the sliding unit 20 and the guide part 50, so that the first engaging supporter 31 and the engaging projection 40 disengage, and the spring member 60 is lengthened (refer to FIG. 5D).

[0040] As described above, when the sliding unit 20 slides out from the storage area 11 and thereafter slides in again, the guide part 50 and the sliding locker 30 approach the engaging projection 40 disposed in the backward side of the guide rail 15 by a sliding of the sliding unit 20. When the sliding unit 20 slides into the storage area 11 by a predetermined distance, the front of the engaging projection 40 contacts the second engaging supporter 33 of the sliding locker 30 to apply pressure to the second engaging supporter 33 of the sliding locker 30. If the engaging projection 40 applies pressure to the second engaging supporter 33, the first guide projection 35 and the second guide projection 37 slide along the horizontal guide hole 51 and the vertical guide hole 53. Then, the second guide projection 37 located in the vertical guide hole 53 enters the horizontal guide hole 51, rotating the sliding locker 30 clockwise (refer to FIG. 6). As the sliding locker 30 rotates, the first guide projection 35 and the second guide projection 37 are located in the horizontal guide hole 51, and the first engaging supporter 31 and the second engaging supporter 33 are located backward and forward from the engaging projection 40, respectively.

[0041] The first guide projection 35 and the second guide projection 37 slide in the horizontal guide hole 51, which causes the spring member 60 to pull the sliding locker 30 in the sliding-out direction of the sliding unit 20 by the elastic force. The elastic force of the spring member 60 acting on the sliding locker 30 acts on the guide part 50 to pull the sliding unit 20 in the sliding-in direction of the sliding unit 20, and the sliding locker 30 is held in the storage area 11 by the engagement of the first engaging supporter 31 and the backward side of the engaging projection 40.

[0042] Through the above process, the sliding unit 20 is completely pushed into the storage area 11. Although the sliding unit 20 slides out from the storage area 11, to some extent, the sliding unit 20 is completely slid into the storage area 11 again by the elastic force of the spring member 60, so that the front opening 13 can be tightly closed for the drawer-type refrigerator according to the present invention.

[0043] Preferably, the spring member 60 is installed opposite to the horizontal guide hole 51 of the guide part 50 at the disengaging position (refer to FIG. 7B). If the sliding locker 30 slides along the horizontal guide hole 51, the spring member 60 is lengthened diagonally to the guide part 50 (refer to FIG. 7A). The elastic force of the spring member 60 prevents the sliding locker 30 from rotating arbitrarily at the disengaging position, to prevent the sliding locker 30 from sliding into the sliding position. In the above embodiment, the guide rail 15 is provided in the sidewall of the storage area 11, but may be alternatively provided in the lower part or upper wall part of the storage area 11.

[0044] In the above embodiment, the engaging projection 40 is disposed in the guide rail 15, and the guide part 50 is disposed in the sliding unit 20. However, alternatively, the installation position of the engaging projection 40 and the guide part 50 may be interchanged.

[0045] In the above embodiment, the engaging projection 40 is disposed in the guide rail 15, but may be alternatively disposed in the position where the engaging projection 40 can be fixed while the sliding unit 20 slides in and out. For example, the engaging projection 40 can be fixed in the interior wall of the storage area 11, at an opposite position to the sliding locker 30.

[0046] In the above embodiment, the sliding unit 20 comprises the door 21, the supporting frame 23 and the storage basket 25, but may alternatively comprise another combination able to slide along the guide rail 15.

[0047] As described above, by providing the automatic guiding device/securing mechanism/locking mechanism which is interposed between the storage area 11 and the sliding unit 20, stores the elastic force in the sliding-in direction of the sliding unit 20 when the sliding unit 20 slides out, and provides the stored elastic force to the sliding unit 20 when the sliding unit 20 slides in, the sliding unit 20 can be completely slid into the storage area 11.

[0048] Furthermore, the door 21 can close the front opening 13 of the storage area 11 tightly by the elastic force of the spring member 60, independent of the material of the body cabinet 10 and the door 21.

[0049] As described above, the present invention includes a drawer-type refrigerator having a sliding unit that can be completely slid into a storage area and thus, the inside of the storage area can be tightly closed independent of a material of a body cabinet and a door.

[0050] Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A drawer-type refrigerator comprising a body cabinet, comprising: at least one storage area with a front opening; a sliding unit to slide in and out through the front opening of the storage area; and an automatic guiding device interposed between the storage area and the sliding unit, stores an elastic force in a sliding-in direction of the sliding unit when the sliding unit slides out, and provides the stored elastic force to the sliding unit when the sliding unit slides in.
 2. The drawer-type refrigerator, according to claim 1, wherein the automatic guiding device includes: an engaging projection provided in one of the storage area and the sliding unit; a sliding locker having a first engaging supporter to engage one side of the engaging projection when the sliding unit slides out and a second engaging supporter to engage the other side of the engaging projection when the sliding unit slides in; a guide part, disposed in the other one of the storage area and the sliding unit, to guide the sliding locker so that the sliding locker is moveable between a sliding position in which the first engaging supporter slides, engaging one side of the engaging projection, and a disengaging position in which the first engaging supporter is disengaged when the sliding unit slides in and out; and a spring member to store the elastic force while the sliding locker moves to the disengaging position.
 3. The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 2, further comprising a guide rail to guide the sliding unit and installed in the storage area along an entrance direction of the sliding unit, and one of the engaging projection and the guide part is disposed in the guide rail.
 4. The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the sliding unit includes a door opening and/or closing the front opening of the storage area, a supporting frame extended along the guide rail from the door, and one of the engaging projection and the guide part disposed in the supporting frame.
 5. The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the guide part has a horizontal guide hole, formed along the entrance direction of the sliding unit, to guide the sliding of the sliding locker, and a vertical guide hole, extended from the horizontal guide hole, to guide the sliding locker to the disengaging position.
 6. The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the sliding locker further comprises a first guide projection inserted into the horizontal guide hole to slide along the entrance direction of the sliding unit, and a second guide projection to slide between the horizontal guide hole and the vertical guide hole.
 7. The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein one side of the spring member is connected to the guide part and another side of the spring member is connected to the second guide projection.
 8. The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the spring member is installed lengthwise opposite the horizontal guide hole at the disengaging position of the sliding locker.
 9. A drawer-type refrigerator having a storage area, comprising: a sliding unit, arranged to slide in and out through a front opening of the storage area of the refrigerator; and a securing mechanism, interposed between the storage area and the sliding unit, wherein the securing mechanism includes a spring member to attach the sliding unit securely to the storage area when the sliding unit is inserted completely into the storage area.
 10. The drawer-type refrigerator, according to claim 9, wherein the securing mechanism comprises: an engaging projection provided in one of the storage area and the sliding unit; a sliding locker having a first engaging supporter to engage one side of the engaging projection and extend the spring to store an elastic force when the sliding unit slides out and a second engaging supporter to engage the other side of the engaging projection when the sliding unit slides in, aided by the stored elastic force; and a guide part, disposed in the other one of the storage area and the sliding unit, to guide the sliding locker so that the sliding locker is moveable between a sliding position in which the first engaging supporter slides, engaging one side of the engaging projection, and a disengaging position in which the first engaging supporter is disengaged when the sliding unit slides in and out.
 11. The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 10, further comprising a guide rail to guide the sliding unit and installed in the storage area along an entrance direction of the sliding unit, and one of the engaging projection and the guide part is disposed in the guide rail.
 12. The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the sliding unit includes a door opening and/or closing the front opening of the storage area, a supporting frame extended along the guide rail from the door, and one of the engaging projection and the guide part disposed in the supporting frame.
 13. The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the guide part has a horizontal guide hole, formed along the entrance direction of the sliding unit, to guide the sliding of the sliding locker, and a vertical guide hole, extended from the horizontal guide hole, to guide the sliding locker to the disengaging position.
 14. The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein the sliding locker further comprises a first guide projection inserted into the horizontal guide hole to slide along the entrance direction of the sliding unit, and a second guide projection to slide between the horizontal guide hole and the vertical guide hole.
 15. The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein one side of the spring member is connected to the guide part and another side of the spring member is connected to the second guide projection.
 16. The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein the spring member is installed lengthwise opposite the horizontal guide hole at the disengaging position of the sliding locker.
 17. A drawer-type refrigerator having a storage area, comprising: a sliding unit, arranged to slide in and out through a front opening of the storage area of the refrigerator; and a locking mechanism, interposed between the storage area and the sliding unit, wherein the locking mechanism includes a spring-loaded sliding locking unit to secure the sliding unit to the storage area when the sliding unit slides completely into the storage area.
 18. The drawer-type refrigerator, according to claim 17, wherein the spring-loaded locking sliding locking unit comprises: a sliding locker having a first engaging supporter to engage one side of the engaging projection when the sliding unit slides out and a second engaging supporter to engage the other side of the engaging projection when the sliding unit slides in; and a spring member to store an elastic force while the sliding locker moves to a disengaging position.
 19. The drawer-type refrigerator, according to claim 18, wherein the locking mechanism further includes: an engaging projection provided in one of the storage area and the sliding unit; and a guide part, disposed in the other one of the storage area and the sliding unit, to guide the sliding locker so that the sliding locker is moveable between a sliding position in which the first engaging supporter slides, engaging one side of the engaging projection, and a disengaging position in which the first engaging supporter is disengaged when the sliding unit slides in and out.
 20. The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 19, further comprising a guide rail to guide the sliding unit is installed in the storage area along an entrance direction of the sliding unit, and one of the engaging projection and the guide part is disposed in the guide rail.
 21. The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 20, wherein the sliding unit includes a door opening and/or closing the front opening of the storage area, a supporting frame extended along the guide rail from the door, and one of the engaging projection and the guide part disposed in the supporting frame.
 22. The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 21, wherein the guide part has a horizontal guide hole, formed along the entrance direction of the sliding unit, to guide the sliding of the sliding locker, and a vertical guide hole, extended from the horizontal guide hole, to guide the sliding locker to the disengaging position.
 23. The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 22, wherein the sliding locker comprises a first guide projection inserted into the horizontal guide hole to slide along the entrance direction of the sliding unit, and a second guide projection to slide between the horizontal guide hole and the vertical guide hole.
 24. The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 23, wherein one side of the spring member is connected to the guide part and another side of the spring member is connected to the second guide projection.
 25. The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 24, wherein the spring member is installed lengthwise opposite the horizontal guide hole at the disengaging position of the sliding locker.
 26. The drawer-type refrigerator according to claim 17, further comprising: the locking mechanism comprises an automatic guiding device interposed between the storage area and the sliding unit, stores an elastic force in a sliding-in direction of the sliding unit when the sliding unit slides out, and provides the stored elastic force to the sliding unit when the sliding unit slides in, and the guiding device includes: an engaging projection provided in one of the storage area and the sliding unit; a sliding locker having a first engaging supporter to engage one side of the engaging projection when the sliding unit slides out and a second engaging supporter to engage the other side of the engaging projection when the sliding unit slides in; a guide part, disposed in the other one of the storage area and the sliding unit, to guide the sliding locker so that the sliding locker is moveable between a sliding position in a horizontal opening in which a first guide projection and a second guide projection slide, and a locking position in which the second guide projection slides into a vertical opening that is connected to the horizontal opening; and a spring member, attached to the second guide projection, storing the elastic force in the spring member and locking the sliding unit completely closed when the second guide projection slides into the vertical opening. 